Photothermal detection of laser‐induced damage in single intact cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Most of the studies of laser-induced damage do not analyze individual cells. Objective of this work was to evaluate local photo-induced thermal phenomena in single cells at theoretical and experimental levels for developing the method for real-time detection of laser damage in intact cells. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Theoretical model of cell-laser interaction assumes local nature of photo-induced thermal effects and describes photodamage through bubble formation. Photothermal (PT) method was suggested for damage detection. Laser-induced damage was verified for individual cells with two techniques through detection of Trypan blue penetration into damaged cell. RESULTS: Specific PT responses from blast-transformed lymphocytes were identified independently as result of bubble formation and cell damage. Probability of cell damage was obtained for cells as function of laser pulse energy. CONCLUSIONS: The Laser load test (LLT) was suggested for real-time detection of damage, damage threshold measurement, and investigation of intact single cells.